China should be more sensitive on Pak issues: Rao

Noting that India and China share a complex relationship, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao underlined that Beijing needs to be more “sensitive” towards India’s concerns in its dealings with Pakistan.

During her talk at The New School here, Rao said India was not against Pakistan’s relationship with other countries but New Delhi had some genuine concerns about some aspects of the relationship between Beijing and Islamabad.

China’s support for Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions, Rao said, was an area where India was “seeking more clarity and transparency” and “welcomed an open discussion.”

The Indian official also said New Delhi took strong exception to China’s policy of issuing stapled visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir and its presence in PoK.

The relationship between India and China, she said, “would be stronger when China shows more sensitivity on issues that impinge on our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The current talks, she said, were a “serious attempt to arrive at a fair and mutually acceptable statements for both side.”

In response to a question, Rao noted that unlike the US, China had not yet openly endorsed India’s candidacy for a permanent seat in the United Nation’s Security Council.

“China is not expressing itself openly in terms of India’s candidacy,” she said, adding Beijing would not block India from getting a seat when the matter came to a vote.

‘Year of Rabbit good for Sino-India ties’

The ‘Year of the Rabbit’ bodes well for Sino-India ties and 2011 will witness a series of events to enhance political, business and people-to-people relations, Chinese Ambassador to India Zhang Yan has said.

“I am very optimistic about China-India relations this year, the Year of the Rabbit,” Zhang said at an event to mark the Lantern Festival, last day of the Chinese New Year.

“Chinese Premier’s visit to India in December has set the stage for enhanced ties between our two nations,” he said. “I am sure the year will bring more prosperity and development for the people of the countries.”